Development of Oncolytic Adenoviruses

Understanding of the molecular basis of oncogenesis has increased dramatically over the past 30 years, partly because of key discoveries about the biology of ribonucleic acid (RNA) and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) tumor viruses, enabled in turn by development of modern molecular biology. Despite great advances in basic research, progress in treatment has been limited, and cancer remains the second leading cause of death in the United States. Current drug therapy continues to be dominated by highly toxic drugs that increase susceptibility to severe infections and to long-term genetic damage that can result in secondary malignancies. These toxicities are primarily attributable to lack of specificity for tumor cells and consequent destruction of rapidly dividing normal cells in the bone marrow and GI tract. New agents with novel mechanisms of action and improved therapeutic indexes are therefore required.